Since the World's been Turning

No history of the 20th century would be complete without the inclusion of Albert Einstein. He’s best-known for developing the general theory of relativity, and for contributing to the development of quantum theory. But although Einstein is perhaps the greatest physicist the world has ever seen, his scientific achievements were only one part of a rich and colourful life. The eternal rebel and self-described “bird of passage” will be embroiled in, and marked by, some of the most turbulent events of the century. 

 On today’s episode we discuss the biggest hit of the 1950s - Rock around the Clock, a song that drove young audiences wild and sparked a musical revolution. We also take a look at the band who made the tune so successful, Bill Haley and His Comets, and their astronomical rise to stardom. Bill was originally a country and western singer, but wanted to make songs that appealed to everyone - and began mixing it up! Fame did not always bring him happiness, but today he’s rightfully recognised as one of the pioneers of rock and roll.

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu shook the world. For the first time a colonial power had lost a pitched battle to the people it had colonised. The French defeat at the hands of the Vietnamese, precipitated the decline of the French Colonial Empire. It marked a new chapter in world history and showed that the Powers that be, were losing their grip, and a new world order was in ascendancy. It was the prelude to the cold war clash that would consume Vietnam, and see a superpower brought low. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu turned America’s eyes to Vietnam, and would demonstrate the tenacity and determination the Vietnamese people possessed. Lessons that should have been learned from this battle were not. This shocking victory was as unexpected as it was complete. The Vietnamese annihilated the arrogant French forces. 

This episode looks into the fascinating story and impact of the miracle fabric Dacron. The fabric created in 1951 caused a fashion revolution. The company behind it, DuPont has a marred reputation that declined alongside their leading fabric. Join us as we enter the world of polyester suits, and discover the story of THE fabric of the 60’s and 70’s

 This episode focuses on the life of arguably the most famous conductor in history – Arturo Toscanini. A musical child prodigy, Toscanini rose to the prestigious role of conductor at the astonishing age of just 19. His reputation for perfection saw him admired by audiences and musicians alike, and made him famous across Italy and then the rest of the world. His reputation for affairs, however, also put his family under strain. Crossing back and forth across the Atlantic, Toscanini’s fame helped him escape the Fascists in Italy and he began recording concerts for the NBC Symphony Orchestra during World War II. He later conducted concerts on television and became a legend above all the rest. Dr. Stephen Alltop – conductor, musician, and senior lecturer at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University in Illinois – joins us to discuss the legacy of Toscanini. Remember to like and subscribe!

This weeks episode chronicles the life of a man who rose from nothing, to lead Argentina and win the love of its people.  Juan Peron is a pivotal figure in Latin American history, and left an indelible mark on the nation, one that continues to have influence to this day.  He would achieve great things while in power, but his final term in office ended in chaos that dragged Argentina into near civil war. To explore the life of this incredible man, we’re joined by Dr Jill Hedges, the deputy director of analysis at Oxford Analytica and author of Juan Peron: The life of the People’s Colonel.

Hello fans! This week’s episode tells the dark tale of Roy Cohn – a shadowy lawyer who appeared in two of the most controversial eras in American politics: McCarthyism and Trumpism. Central to getting the Rosenbergs executed, Cohn became an attack dog during the anti-communist witch hunts of Senator Joe McCarthy. As a defense lawyer in New York City, Cohn then helped gangsters literally get away with murder. In the 1970s, Cohn then took a young real estate developer, Donald Trump, under his wing and taught him to never apologise, never admit defeat, always attack, and do whatever you can to control the narrative. We’re joined by Christopher Elias, professor of history and author of the book Gossip Men: J. Edgar Hoover, Joe McCarthy, Roy Cohn, and the Politics of Insinuation, who helps us understand the man who bridged the world of the legal and the illegal, and who left a lasting impression on American society in his wake. Remember to like and subscribe!

This episode explores life in the Communist bloc. A collection of states in Eastern Europe that were under the oppressive thumb of the Soviet Union. Life within the bloc contrasts sharply with life in the West. Berlin, being split in two, provided a clear example of this. To help us explore life in the Bloc is Dr Gerhard Schüsselbauer Director of the Pan-European Studies Institute. We dive into life within the bloc and specifically life in Berlin during this pivotal period of Modern European history, that ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

Next on the lyrics of 'we didnt start the fire' chronicles the life of a man who struggled and triumphed in spite of racism and disability. Roy Campanella was one of the biggest baseball stars of his era. He helped break the colour barrier and begin the integration of America's game, and following his tragic car crash he became an inspiration to other disabled Americans. To help us understand the impact of his life, we’re joined today by Neil Lanctot, Historian and author of Negro League Baseball – The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution, and most recently, Approaching Storm which details the clashes around America’s involvement in World War One. 

Hello fans! This episode tells the story of Winthrop Rockefeller, grandson of the wealthiest man in modern history (John D. Rockefeller) and Governor of Arkansas from 1967 to 1971. Coming from a lot of money, Winthrop was also a war veteran, and in the late 1940s he was considered America’s most eligible bachelor. His highly publicised wedding to actress and model Jievute “Bobo” Paulekiute was soon eclipsed by their highly publicised divorce. Historian Janet Harris from the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute in Arkansas joins us to explain how there was so much more to Winthrop than what appeared in the tabloids, however, including his tireless work to improve the lives of the poorest people in Arkansas.

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